Coupler



ZSLGM Feh., 25, 1936. w. F. RICHARDS COUPLER 3 sheets-sheet A1 Filed April 8, 1930 Feb.. 25, E936. w, F. RICHARDS 053km? Y COUPLER Filed April 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 25, E936.

w. F. RICHARDS 2,@3L67 COUPLER Filed April 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUPLER Application April 8, 1930, Serial No. 442,638

16 Claims.

This invention relates to couplers, and more particularly to automatic couplers adapted for use on railway rolling stock and operated by a transversely extending rocker shaft.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to p-rovide a coupler of the bottomoperated type, in which all parts of the mechanism work on pivots for facilitating the operation thereof, and in which an operating rod with a depending arm serves the double purpose of operating the locking mechanism of the coupler and aligning the coupler head for effecting the operation of coupling, the link for moving the lock being provided with an extension functioning to retain the lock in locked position and prevent lundesired unlocking thereof, said coupler being particularly adapted for use on railway rolling stock of the type generally used in countries foreign to the United' States, although it will be understood that it is adapted for use on all types of rolling stock.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler in which the lock thereof is of the vertically movable type engaging a bell-crank lever knuckle opener upon upward movement thereof, the mechanism for operating said lock comprising a lock lever on a rocker shaft and a link connecting said lever to said lock, said link having an anti-jump extension normally underlying a portion of the coupler head to retain the lock in locked position until positively unlocked in the usual way, the parts being so arranged that during the unlocking operation, as the leverage of the knuckle opener decreases, the mechanical advantage of the lock lever and link increases.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler with a vertically movable lock operated by a lock lever and link from a rocker shaft, said lock being positively moved to lock-set position by the lock link which acts as an inclined strut urging said lock rearwardly, and at the same time preventing it from working out of the face of the coupler head.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler in which the parts thereof are pivoted to secure ease of operation, said coupler being operated by a. transversely extending rod provided with a depending arm, said rod, upon rotation, serving to unlock the coupler, and upon longitudinal movement serving to align the same for coupling with the coupler of an adjacent vehicle.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler with a rocker shaft,

lock lever and lock link for operating a vertically movable lock thereof, said lock lever being provided with a hub forming a limit stop for the bottom of the lock, and more particularly for depending legs thereon, said lock link being connected to the lock between said legs and serving not only to raise it, but to first release the lock retaining means provided on the link and to then positively force said lock into lock-set position.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler with a knuckle opener mounted on a longitudinally extending pivot and provided withan elongated hub from the forward portion of which extends an arm engaging the tail of the knuckle and from the rearward portion of which extends another arm engaged by the lock for effecting operation of said opener, the tail of said knuckle and the face of the lock engaged thereby being preferably correspondingly inclined to avoid creeping of the lock.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claimsz- Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupler embodying my invention, a portion thereof being shown in horizontal section with the coupler mechanism in locked position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the mechanism of the couplerin lock-set position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing the mechanism of the coupler in lock-set position.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views corresponding, respectively, to Figs. 4 and 5, but showing the parts of theV coupler in full open position.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views corresponding, respectively, to= Figs. 4 and 5, but showing the parts of the coupler in position to couple, with the lock-set off and the knuckle open.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line IO-Ill of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The coupler described in the present application is an improvement on the coupler described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 279,017, filed May 19, 1928, which matured into Patent 1,897,278, February 14, 1933. The present coupler desirably corresponds generally in size with that of the application just referred to, except that the distance from the pulling face of the knuckle, when locked, to the rear surface of the horn of the coupler is desirably slightly increased to provide room for the improved feature of the retaining or anti-jump extension on the top of the lock link.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there is illustrated a coupler I comprising a head 2 and a knuckle 3 pivotally connected by means of a pin 4, as is usual with automatic couplers. The pin may be retained in place by means of a cotter or other retaining device (not shown) passing through an aperture 5 in the lower end thereof. The coupler I is particularly adapted for service on foreign railways where the curves are sharp and where it is desirable that the employee effecting the coupling and uncoupling operations should not go between the vehicles. For that purpose, the coupler I is provided with an operating rod 6 provided with a handle 1 at its outer end preferably normally inclined in the direction of unlocking to minimize swaying thereof, and thereby avoid unintentional unlocking or raising of the coupler lock. Said rod is preferably formed with a hook 8 at its inner end for engagement with an eye 9 of a rocker shaft I0 which, in turn, effects the operation of the coupler I upon rotating or turning of said shaft. Longitudinal movement of the operating rod or rocker shaft I9 has no effect in operating the coupler so that such movement may be employed for aligning the coupler with an adjacent coupler, so that coupling therebetween can be effected, the inner end of said coupler stem (not shown) being for that purpose adapted for angling or pivotal movement with respect to the vehicle underframe.

The coupler head 2 is formed with a downwardly and forwardly opening compartment or pocket II adapted to receive through the front opening I2 a vertically movable bottom-operated lock I3. The pin 4 which connects the knuckle 3 to the head desirably passes through an aperture I4 in the knuckle and corresponding registering apertures I5 in the upper pivot lug or ear I6 and lower pivot lug or ear I1 on the head 2. The pin 4 is, in the present embodiment, formed with a head I8 which limits downward movement thereof. The knuckle 3, as is usual, is provided with a tail I9 received, when in locked position, in a pocket 29 in the head 2.

In order to relieve the knuckle pin 4 of pulling strains and obtain the greatest possible strength of connection with the head, while at the same time allowing free swinging of the knuckle when unlocked, said knuckle is desirably provided on its tail I9 with pulling lugs 2I and 22 providing shoulders 23 and 24 preferably vertically aligned, as shown in detail in Fig. 10, and engaging correspondingly shouldered portions 25 and 26, respectively, on the coupler head. On account of the vertical alignment of the shoulders, the pulling action is equalized.

To protect the pin 4 from buidng forces, corresponding buing shoulders 21 and 28 are provided on the knuckle for engagement with the pivot lugs or ears I6 and I1, respectively. To protect the pin 4 against lateral forces due to eccentricity thereof, top and bottom pin protector shoulders 29 and 39 are provided extending forwardly from the lugs 2l and 22, respectively, and formed on portions which are, in effect, angular extensions of said lugs 2l and 22, said shoulders being adapted to engage corresponding shoulders 3l of the head 2. In order to limit turning movement of the knuckle inwardly of the head, an abutment or shoulder 32 is desirably provided on the tail of the knuckle and adapted to engage the limit stop shoulder or abutment 33 on the head, as shown in detail in Fig. 10.

The locking mechanism for the knuckle 3 in the present embodiment comprises a locking block I3 which is guided for up and down movement in said head by a guide portion or rib 34 provided on its lower end with an angular shoulder 35 adapted to form a stop ledge for the lock link 36, the plane of said shoulder being approximately normal to said link, thereby avoiding any unintentional unlocking. The lock I3 is desirably provided with a pair of depending legs 31 which, in the lowermost position illustrated in Fig. 2, rest on the abutment portion or hub 38 of the lock lever 39 which is non-rotatably mounted on the operating rocker shaft IIJ. The leg 31 toward the knuckle side of the head, is preferably provided with an outstanding or laterally extending lug or projection 31 disposed, when in lowermost position, between the lower section II of the rear wall of the pocket II and a lug I2 extending from a lower portion of the head toward the guard arm side thereof in front of said projection 31 for guiding the lock, especially during descent. The upper rear portion of the lug I2' is preferably beveled, as at I3', to facilitate the guiding operation. The lock or lock block I3 is raised to lock-set or full open position, as indicated, respectively, in Figs. 5 and 7, by means of the link 36 pivoted at its lower end to the free end of the lock lever 39, as indicated at 4D, and preferably extending between the legs 31 of the lock and connected thereto by means of a rivet or pin 4I passing through corresponding apertures 42 in the lock, below the center of gravity, and the normally inclined slot 43 in the link 36, said link being correspondingly widened at the connected portion to accommodate the slot and continued therebeyond, preferably at an angle to the main portion of the link, to provide an antijump extension 44 normally underlying the stop shoulder 35 on the head, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, to prevent undesired upward movement or jumping of the lock from locked position.

For effecting the opening of the knuckle 3, a knuckle opener 45 is provided, said opener taking the form of a bell-crank and provided with a longitudinally extended hub portion 46 mounted on a longitudinally extending pivot or pin 41. The pin 41 is desirably inserted from the front into the aperture 48 in the head and may be retained in place without auxiliary retaining means by the knuckle 3 closing the opening to said aperture 48, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The forward end of the hub portion 46 is provided with an angular arm or kicker 49, the lower depending portion of which normally lies adjacent the lower portion of the tail I9 of the knuckle 3 for effecting the opening operation thereof. The rear portion of the hub 46 is formed with a transversely extending arm 50 which ts in a depression or notch 5I in the top of the locking block I3 and is engaged by said locking block upon upward movement thereof for effecting the openingr of the knuckle, as indicated particularly in Figs. 4 'and 6.

The operation of the coupler of the present embodiment of my invention is as follows, starting with the lock and associated parts in closed or locked positionz-When in such position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, not only is the lock held down by gravity, but it is positively locked or retained by the extension 44 on account of it underlying the shoulder 35 on the head. Upon rotating the rocker shaft I clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, the lock lifter or link 36 first rotates counter-clockwise about the pivot 40' as it moves upward until the anti-jump extension 44 passes from beneath the shoulder 35, the inclined slot' 43 permitting the link to ride up on the link rivet or pin 4| until said extension is clear of the shoulder 35, whereby, upon further turning of the rocker shaft I6, the lower end of the slotted portion of the link 36 engages the rivet 4I and raises the lock bodily, thereby releasing the tail of the knuckle and finally reaching the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 where the lock legs 31 engage and rest on the lock-set ledge 52 of the coupler head which is preferably formed at the top of the section II of the rear wall of the pocket II, whereby said lock is held in lockset position and the knuckle may be opened, if desired.

On account of the cam shape of the hub forming the abutment portion 38 of the rocker shaft, a raising action takes place between said abutment portion and the legs 31 of the lock, resulting in a slight upward movement of said lock immediately upon turning of the rocker shaft, thereby initially transmitting the necessary force to overcome the friction of the lock on the knuckle, initiating the disengagement of the anticreep faces 63 and 64, releasing the pressure between the pivot portion 4I and the slotted portion 43 of the link 36, and facilitating sliding of the link on said pivot portion while at the same time minimizing wear therebetween.

If the rocker shaft I6 is turned further in the same direction, the adjacent arm of the bellcrank lever or knuckle opener 45 will be engaged by the top of the lock I3 in the notch 5| therein and moved so that the other arm 49 of said knuckle opener engages the tail I9 of the knuckle and moves it to open position. After the knuckle has been opened and the lock lever 39 allowed to return to lower or normal position, the legs 31 of the lock will rst engage the lock-set ledge 52. During the coupling operation, the tail of the knuckle will withdraw the legs 31 from the lockset ledge 52 by swinging beneath the lower outer surface 53 of the lock I3, raising the forward portion thereof and swinging the legs 31 out of engagement with the lock-set ledge, whereupon the lock is permitted to drop to locked position.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be apparent that I have devised a coupler specially adapted for foreign passenger service, although, as will be obvious, it is not limited to such use.l The lock is bottom-operated by rotation of a transversely extending rod and connected rocker shaft, which shaft has an eye portion 9 for convenient connection of the rod thereto. If desired, the opposite end of the shaft may be retained by an eye portion 54 connected to said shaft by a cotter orthe like 55 thereby adapting the shaft I6 for connection with an operating rod 6 at either end thereof. In order to limit downward movement of the lock I3 not only do the legs 31 rest on the hub 36, but the link 36 vis normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 2 by being preferably curved rearwardly so that the innermost contour thereof engages that portion of the hub 38 designated by the reference character 56 between the bifurcated portions 51 of the lock lever, wherebythe position of the link 36 shown in Fig. 2 is the lowest position that it will occupy.

The upper portion of the head 2 is desirably closed, as indicated at 58, to prevent the entrance of water and other undesired foreign matter. The lock lever l39 is connected to the rocker shaft for turning therewith in any desired manner as by having a non-circular aperture 59 therein fitting a correspondingly formed non-circular portion 60 of said shaft.

The operation of the coupler is greatly facilitated by pivotally connecting all the parts of the mechanism and having the bell-crank knuckle opener and the lock lever and lock link so proportioned that when the leverage o-f the operating portion 50 of the knuckle opener decreases so that ordinarily the force transmitted to the kickerV portion 49 would be relatively small, such force is increased by the increase of mechanical advantage of the toggle formed by the lock lever and lock link coming into approximate alignment, vso that the resultant force transmitted from the kicker to the tail of the knuckle is maintained approximately constant with the application of a constant operating force to the ro-d 6.

The lock I3 is insertable in place with its connected link 36 through the front opening I2 in the head, the wall 60 being beveled, as indicated at 6|, to provide the necessary clearance for that purpose. The size of the lock I3 is such that when in place it cannot be lost by dropping through the lower aperture 62 in the head. It will be appreciated that the movement of the lock tolock-set position, as contradistinguished from some previous forms of couplers, is positive in its action due to the angularity or inclination of the lock link, which inclination also functions to keep the lock rearward and prevent it from working out of the face of the head. The extension 44 is provided on the lock link to avoid the lock jumping out of place while the coupler is in service, the lock being desirably additionally provided with an inclined anti-creep face 63 no-rmally engaged by a correspondingly inclined face 64 on the tail of the knuckle.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that modications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:-

1. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a locking block for said knuckle, and operating means for said block comprising a rocker shaft mounted with its axis extending transversely of the head, a lever mounted on said shaft, and a link connecting said lever and block, said `block having depending legs adapted to engage a lock-set ledge on the head, said link having a widened portion with a diagonal slot' adjacent its upper end, said slotted portion being received between the legs of the block, and connecting means passing through said block and said slot for allowing a predetermined amount of lost mo-tion therebetween, the end of said link above said slot extending upwardly and rearwardly from said widened portion and normally underlying a portion of the head to prevent undesired raising o the block until the link has been raised to take up 4the lost motion.

2. In combination, a'coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a knuckle locking block with depending legs, a wall of said head the top of which forms a ledge adapted to be engaged by said legs for holding said block in lock-set position, operating means for said block comprising a rocker shaft, a lever on said shaft, and a link connecting said lever and block, one of said legs having a laterally extending projection and the coupler head having a lug extending from the adjacent wall in front of said projection for guiding said block.

3. In combination, a coupler head, a vertically movable lock formed with a depending leg, operating means for said lock comprising a rocker shaft, a lever on said shaft, an abutment portion on said lever for said leg, a link connecting said lever` and lock, and a lug extending laterally from the head, said leg having a laterally extending projection guided between said lug and a transverse wall of the head when it descends to engage the abutment portion of the lever.

4. In combination, a co-upler head, a vertically movable lock formed with a depending leg, said head being formed with a wall, and a lug extending from another wall forwardly of said first wall, said leg having a projection extending transversely therefrom and disposed between said lug and first-mentioned wall when the lock is in lowered position.

5. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a locking block for said knuckle, said head having portions guiding said block for vertical movement, and operating means comprising a rocker shaft disposed below said block, a lock lever on said shaft normally extending forwardly therefrom and supporting said block, and a link movably connected to, and extending upwardly and rearwardly from, the forward portion of said lever and connected with the block thereabove, whereby when the block is supported b-y the lever the connected portion of the link is constrained, by the guiding portions for the block, from longitudinal swinging, said lever having bifurcations receiving the lower portion of said link therebetween, said link being formed so that, when in lowermost position, it engages: the portion of said lever uniting the bifurcations to limit further downward movement of said link.

6. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and means for operating said lock, 'said means comprising a shaft extending transversely of the head and disposed directly under said lock, an arm on said shaft normally extending longitudinally of the head and disposed approximately horizontal, and a link, connected to said arm, extending diagonally upward and rearward and formed with a slot extending upward and forward intermediate its ends and a lost motion connection between said lock and link at said slot, the link being extended upwardly and rearwardly beyond said slot and lock, and normally underlying a shoulder on the head to prevent undesired upward movement of the lock.

7. In an auto-matic coupler, a head, a swinging knuckle, a locking block, and operating means for said block comprising a rocker shaft rotatable about an axis transverse to said coupler, a lock lever on said shaft extending forwardly under said block when the latter is in locked position, and a link connecting said lever and block, said link extending diagonally upward and rearward from the forward end portion of the lever to the connection with the block when locked, and beyond said connection at a different angle, to provide'a portion normally 'underlying' a shoulder on the head for maintaining the block in locked position.

8. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a knuckle opener, a locking device for said knuckle comprising a block adapted to engage said knuckle opener upon upward movement thereof, operating means for said block comprising a rocker shaft rotatable about an axis transverse to said head, mechanism between said shaft and locking block comprising a lever swingable about the axis of the shaft and a link movably connected to said lever and block, the parts being so arranged that as the leverage of the knuckle opener decreases the mechanical advantage of the lever and link increases, said link having an upper end portion above the connection with said block, and said head having a shoulder, the plane of which is approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of said end portion, which overlies said upper end portion when said b-lock is in locked position for retaining said block in place until positively unlocked.

9. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a locking block, means for operating said block and aligning said coupler comprising a rocker shaft directly underlying the rear portion of said block, an arm connected to said shaft, and a link pivotally connected to said arm and to said block, said link having a portion extending, at an angle to the main portion of said link, upwardly beyond the connection with said block and cooperating with a shouldered portion of the head for holding the locking block in locked position, the plane of said shouldered portion being then approximately normal to said extension.

10. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a locking block, means for operating said block and aligning said coupler comprising a rocker shaft underlying said block, an arm connected to said shaft and extending forwardly therefrom, a link pivotally connected to said arm, extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and passing between spaced portions of said block, said link being widened where it is disposed between said spaced portions, said widened portion having a diagonally extending slot receiving a pivotal portion secured to said block below its center of gravity, said link being extended upwardly and rearwardly beyond said slot and terminating in a shoulder disposed approximately normal to the extended portion of said link, said shoulder normally cooperating with a corresponding shouldered portion on the head for holding the block in locked position, said shoulder moving outv of locked position upon raising the link and causing the slotted portion thereof to slide over the pivotal portion of the block.

11. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a vertically movable locking block for said knuckle, and operating means for said block comprising a lock lever swinging about a normally horizontal axis and serving to support said block, and a link movably connected to and extending upwardly from the free end portion of said lever and connected to said block, whereby when the block is supported by the lever the connected portion of the link is constrained on account of its connection with the lock, said lever having laterally spaced portions receiving the lower end portion of said link therebetween, said link being so constructed that when in lowermost position a side portion engages that portion of the lever uniting the laterally spaced portions to limit further downward movement of said link.

l2. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a locking device for said knuckle comprising a block, a knuckle opener adapted to be actuated by said block on upward movement thereof, and operating means for said block comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a rocker arm mounted on said shaft, and a link extending upwardly and rearwardly from said arm and having a widened portion movably connected to said block, said link having a portion extending in the same general direction, above said widened portion, and adapted to underlie a shoulder on the head when the block is in locked position for preventing undesired upward movement of said block.

13. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a locking device for said knuckle comprising a block, a knuckle opener pivotally mounted in the head and adapted to be actuated by the block, and operating means for said block comprising a rocker shaft extending transversely of the head and mounted to rotate about its axis, a lever non-rotatably mounted on said shaft and normally extending forwardly therefrom, and a link connecting said block and the free end of said lever and extending upwardly and rearward- 1y from the free end of the latter, said-link having a slot in a widened portion thereof engaged by means on the block slidable therealong, whereby a predetermined amount of lost motion is provided between said link and block, and extended at approximately normal width above said widened portion so that the end portion of said link normally underlies a portion of the head to prevent unlocking of the block until the lost motion is taken up by raising of the link.

14. In combination, a coupler head formed with a lock receiving cavity, a rib on one wall of said cavity for guiding the lock, the lower end of said rib being provided with a shoulder, a vertically movable lock mounted in said cavity, and operating means for said lock comprising a rocker shaft, a lock lever on said shaft, and a link pivotally connected to said lock lever, extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and having a widened portion connected to said lock with the provision of a limited amount of lost motion therebetween, the link being extended upwardly and rearwardly beyond said widened portion and rearwardly beyond the lock to normally underlie the shoulder on the rib and retain said lock in lowermost position, the link-cooperating face of said shoulder being then approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of the extension of said link to avoid unintentional unlocking.

15. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and operating means for said lock comprising a shaft mounted to rotate about an axis extending transversely of Vthe head, a lever non-rotatably mounted thereon,

and a link pivotally connected to the free end of said lever, extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and with an intermediate widened portion formed with an upwardly and forwardly extending slot slidably receiving a pivot portion of said lock with an upper end portion extended beyond said widened portion and normally underlying a portion of the head, shouldered in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said end portion, to prevent undesired raising of the lock whereby, because of the direction of the slot, the iirst upward movement of the link results in upward and forward movement of the upper end portion from beneath the associated portion of the head before raising the lock.

16. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted thereon, a lock for said knuckle, the normally engaged surfaces on the knuckle and lock being beveled to provide an anticreep, operating means for said lock comprising a rocker shaft formed with a cam portion, and said lock being provided with a depending leg engaging said cam portion when in lowermost position, whereby said lock is slightly raised upon initial operating movement of said rocker shaft to overcome inertia and friction of the lock on the knuckle and initiate the disengagement of the anticreep surfaces.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS. 

